U.S. patent application number 12/927808 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-24 for methods of remote text input and editing on tv screen using locally-text-editable remote control.
Invention is credited to Guoxiang Lin.
Application Number | 20120127081 12/927808 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46063895 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120127081 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Guoxiang |
May 24, 2012 |
Methods of remote text input and editing on TV screen using
locally-text-editable remote control
Abstract
A remote text input and editing method and a remote control
device that allow user to input and edit text message on a
hand-held remote control locally, and transmit the prepared text
message to a television (TV). The remote text input and editing
method involves batch text transmission, as opposed to traditional
character-by-character remote control and remote keyboard
approaches. Text messages transmitted between the remote control
and the TV incorporates automatic error detection mechanism and can
be in encrypted form.
Inventors: |
Lin; Guoxiang; (Potomac,
MD) |
Family ID: |
46063895 |
Appl. No.: |
12/927808 |
Filed: |
November 24, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/169 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0219 20130101;
G06F 3/0236 20130101; G06F 3/0227 20130101; H04N 21/41265 20200801;
G06F 3/021 20130101; G06F 3/0231 20130101; G06F 3/0233 20130101;
H04N 21/42214 20130101; H04N 21/42208 20130101; H04N 21/42204
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/169 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/02 20060101
G06F003/02 |
Claims
1. A method of remote text input and editing between a television
set and a remote control of the said television set comprising the
steps of: Manually input characters on the said remote control to
construct prepared text locally; Transmit the said prepared text
from the said remote control to the said television set; Display
the said prepared text on the screen of the said television
set.
2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of
signaling the said remote control from the said television set for
text input.
3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of
signaling the said television set from the said remote control for
text retrieval to retrieve text from the said television set to the
said remote control.
4. The text retrieval in claim 3 wherein the said television set
transmits the highlighted text on the screen of the said television
set to the said remote control.
5. The text retrieval in claim 3 wherein the said television set
transmits the text in the current text editing area on the screen
of the said television set to the said remote control.
6. The text retrieval in claim 3 wherein the retrieved text is
transmitted in encrypted form from the said television set to the
said remote control.
7. The text retrieval in claim 3 wherein the text transmission from
the said television set to the said remote control employs error
detection mechanism to verify the integrity of the said text
received by the said remote control.
8. The text retrieval in claim 3 wherein the said remote control
displays the said retrieved text on a local display of the said
remote control.
9. The text retrieval in claim 3 wherein the said remote control
stores the said retrieved text in a memory buffer of the said
remote control.
10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of
editing the text on the said remote control.
11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the transmission of the
said prepared text from the said remote control to the said
television set employs error detection mechanism to verify the
integrity of the said prepared text received by the said television
set.
12. The error detection mechanism in claim 11 wherein the said
remote control shows the status of the said transmission of the
said prepared text.
13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the said prepared text
is transmitted in encrypted form from the said remote control to
the said television set.
14. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of
clearing existing text on the screen of the said television set
before displaying the said prepared text.
15. The method according to claim 1 wherein the said prepared text
is inserted into the current cursor position on the screen of the
said television set.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM
LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention is directed to providing users with the
capability to remotely input and edit text on a TV screen using a
remote control which allows users to input and edit text message
locally on the remote control, and to send the prepared text
message to the TV screen.
[0005] Entertainment systems have become more and more interactive.
TV set top box and digital video recorder provide searchable video
on demand (VOD) functionalities, and newer TVs even come with
internet browsing capability. However, when it comes to text input,
like entering a movie title name for VOD, or entering information
for a user profile on TV, or sending text messages to a friend on
TV, remote text input posts a real challenge to current remote
control devices.
[0006] There are two approaches for remote text input in the prior
art, one using on-screen soft keypad, and the second using remote
keyboard. The problem with these two approaches in the prior art is
that both approaches can enter one character at a time only. For
the first approach, users have to point the remote or move the
highlight on screen to enter one character at a time, which is slow
and hard to do when people sits 8 or 10 feet away from the screen.
As to the second approach, not everyone can type correctly without
looking at the keyboard. That means many users have to move the
head up and down for each character. Even for people who can type
traditional keyboard without looking at it, when they want to
switch to a more convenient small keyboard, they may have to look
at the keyboard while typing, since their fingers would be too big
to rest on the small keyboard like the way with regular size
keyboard.
[0007] What is needed is a system described in present invention,
where user can input and edit text locally on a remote control, and
is able to transmit the prepared text to a TV to display on its
screen.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object the present invention to provide users with
an improved remote text input and edit capability on television
(TV) using a remote control, utilizing batch text transmission.
[0009] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a
locally-text-editable remote control with batch text transmission
capability allows users to type and edit text right on the remote
control, and send the whole finished text to a TV to display on its
screen. The remote control and the TV can communicate with each
other using two-directional traffic means. The remote control
operates in two modes--local text editing mode and remote control
mode. And it can switch mode manually or automatically. The text
transmission between the remote control and the TV has automatic
error detection mechanism to ensure accurate text transmission.
Text messages transmitted between the remote control and the TV can
be in encrypted form.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an entertainment system suited
for incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a text message format in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a remote control for local text
editing and batch text transmission in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating remote text input
and editing operations in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram illustrates an
entertainment system suited for incorporating an embodiment of the
present invention. A television set 1 has a transmitter 5 to send
signal and a receiver 6 to receive signal. A remote control 2 has a
transmitter 7 to send signal and a receiver 8 to receiver signal.
The communication between television set 1 and remote control 2 is
two directional. Signal can be sent in direction 3 from remote
control 2 to television set 1. Signal can also be sent in direction
4 from television set 1 to remote control 2. Although
one-directional communication in direction 3 from remote control 2
to television set 1 can transmit prepared text message from remote
control 2 to television set 1 in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, two-directional communication provides means
for more reliable and convenient remote text input and editing.
Although a direct communication between a television set 1 and a
remote control 2 is described in this illustrative system, it will
be apparent that a system having a separate television receiver,
e.g. a set-top box, which is connected to a television set 1 and
communicates with a remote control 2, is also suited for
incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, in this illustrative example,
communication between television set 1 and remote control 2 uses
radio frequency (RF) as transportation means to carry information
being transmitted between television set 1 and remote control 2. It
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other
transportation means, including, but not limited to, infrared (IR),
can also be used for communication between television set 1 and
remote control 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. Text message can be sent in direction 3 from remote
control 2 to television set 1, and can be sent in direction 4 from
television set 1 to remote control 2.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 2, a diagram illustrates a text message
format in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
As an illustrative example, XML format is used in text message
transmission in direction 3 from remote control 2 to television set
1 and in direction 4 from television set 1 to remote control 2.
Message 9 transmitted from remote control 2 to television set 1 is
in XML format. Message 9 starts with <batch_text> 10 and ends
with </batch_text> 11. Inside message 9, checksum value 14 is
enclosed by <checksum> 12 and </checksum> 13. Checksum
value 14 is used to check the integrity of prepared text 17 that is
enclosed by <text> 15 and </text> 16. INSERT/REPLACE
indicator 19 enclosed by <insert> 18 and <insert> 20
can be either Y or N. If INSERT/REPLACE indicator 19 is Y,
television set 1 inserts prepared text 17 to the current cursor
position on the screen of television set 1. If INSERT/REPLACE
indicator 19 is N, television set 1 replaces existing text of the
current text input area on the screen of television set 1 with
prepared text 17. Although XML format is used in this illustrative
example, it will be apparent for those skilled in the art that
other message formats can also be used to transmit text between
television set 1 and remote control 2 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 3, a diagram illustrates a remote control
for local text editing and batch text transmission in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention. Remote control 2 has
transmitter 7 and receiver 8 for two-directional communication with
television set 1. Remote control 2 operates in two modes--local
text editing mode and remote control mode. In local text editing
mode, text editing keys 25, number keys (Num Keys) 23, mouse
buttons 28 and optical trackball 21 are used to input and edit text
on display 31. In remote control mode, text editing keys 25, number
keys (Num Keys) 23, mouse buttons 28 and optical trackball 21 are
used to control television set 1. Remote control keys (RC Keys) 22
are used to control television set 1 regardless of the operating
mode of remote control 2. SEND button (SE) 26 is used to send
prepared text on display 31 to television set 1. Red light (R) 32
illuminates if sending the prepared text from remote control 2 to
television set 1 failed. Green light (G) 33 illuminates if remote
control 2 receives signal indicating that the prepared text was
successfully sent from remote control 2 to television set 1. Once
the prepared text is successfully sent to television set 1 by
pressing SEND button 26, remote control 2 automatically switches to
remote control mode and turns off display 31. Display 31 can be set
to keep previously prepared text or to clear the buffer when it
turns off. When remote control 2 receives TEXT_INPUT signal from
television set 1, remote control 2 automatically switches to local
text editing mode, and turns on display 31. Pressing SWITCH (SW) 30
one time will manually switch the operating mode of remote control
2 between local text editing mode and remote control mode. Pressing
SWITCH 30 two times within 1 second will manually switch the
operating mode of remote control 2, and, in addition, will turn off
automatic mode switch function if the automatic mode switch
function is currently on, or will turn on automatic mode switch
function if the automatic mode switch function is currently off.
INSERT button (I) 29 is used to toggle the value of INSERT/REPLACE
indicator 19. Pressing FETCH button (F) 27 sends TEXT_RETRIEVAL
command from remote control 2 to television set 1 to retrieve text
from television set 1 to remote control 2. Remote control 2 has
internal memory buffers 24 to store previously prepared text, which
can be retrieved in a later time with MEMORY keys (not shown in the
diagram). Remote control 2 has SYNC button (not shown in the
diagram) to sync up with television set 1 and exchange public keys
for encryption with television set 1.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 4, a sequence diagram illustrates an
example of steps practiced in implementing an embodiment of the
present invention. In step 34, when user press both SYNC button of
remote control 2 and SYNC button of television set 1 within a time
period of 10 seconds, remote control 2 and television set 1 sync up
with each other and exchange public keys, so that remote control 2
and television set 1 can communicate with each other with encrypted
text message using asymmetric key algorithms. Although described
using asymmetric key cipher for message encryption and decryption,
it will be apparent for those skilled in the art that encryption
techniques other than asymmetric key cipher could be used for
encrypted text communication.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 4, in step 35, when television set 1
expects text input from remote control 2, television set 1 sends
TEXT_INPUT signal to remote control 2. Upon receiving TEXT_INPUT
signal from television set 1, remote control 2 switches to local
text editing mode and turns on display 31. In step 36, user presses
FETCH button 27 to send a TEXT_RETRIEVAL command from remote
control 2 to television set 1. In step 37, television set 1 sends
highlighted text on the screen of television set 1 to remote
control 2. Alternatively, based on settings on television set 1
that are configurable using remote control 2, television set 1
sends existing text of current text input area on the screen of
television set 1 to remote control 2. Remote control 2 inserts the
fetched text into current cursor position on display 31.
Alternatively, based on configurable settings of remote control 2,
remote control 2 replaces existing text on display 31 with the
fetched text, or stores the fetched text in a buffer of remote
control 2. In step 38, user input and edit text on display 31, and
may retrieve text from memory buffers to display 31.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 4, in step 39, user press SEND button 26;
remote control 2 constructs an XML message, as illustrated by
message 9, with the prepared text 17 from display 31, an
INSERT/REPLACE indicator value 19 and a checksum value 14 of the
prepared text 17; remote control 2 encrypts the XML message 9 and
transmits the encrypted message to television set 1. In step 40,
television set 1 decrypts the received message, and verifies the
integrity of the prepared text 17 using the checksum value 14. If
checksum verification of prepared text 17 is successful, television
set 1 inserts prepared text 17 into the current cursor position on
the screen of television set 1, or replaces the existing text of
the current editable text area on the screen of television set 1
with the prepared text 17, based on the INSERT/REPLACE indicator
value 19. And then, television set 1 sends SUCCESS acknowledgement
to remote control 2 in step 41. If, in step 40, checksum
verification of prepared text 17 is not successful, television set
1 drops the received message 9, and sends FAILURE acknowledgement
to remote control 2 in step 41.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 4, in step 42, upon receiving SUCCESS
acknowledgement from television set 1, remote control 2 illuminates
GREEN light 33, switches to remote control mode, and turns off
display 31. If remote control 2 receives FAILURE acknowledgement
from television set 1, or does not receive any acknowledgement from
television set 1 within 1 second, it will retry transmission of the
same prepared text from step 39. If the second attempt of
transmission fails again, remote control 2 will abort the prepared
text transmission and will illuminate RED light 32. The number of
retries before aborting the prepared text transmission is
configurable. Pressing any key will reset RED Light 32 and GREEN
Light 33 indicators. It will be apparent that remote control 2 can
use other means to show status of the prepared text transmission in
steps 39, 40, 41 and 42, including, but not limited to, other light
colors and different sounds and tones. It will also be apparent
that the encryption/decryption mechanism and the error detection
and retry mechanism for text transmission from remote control 2 to
television set 1, as illustrated in steps 39, 40, 41 and 42, can
also be applied on text transmission from television set 1 to
remote control 2, e.g. in step 37.
* * * * *